In this series we’ll take a fresh look at resources and how they are used. We’ll go beyond natural resources like air and water to look at how efficiency in raw materials can boost the bottom line and help the environment. We’ll also examine the circular economy and design for reuse — with an eye toward honoring those resources we do have.

While changes at home can’t solve the many environmental crises we face today, they can sure help. Through this series, we’ll explore how initiatives like curbside compost pick-up, rebates on compost bins, and efficient appliances can help families reduce their impact without breaking the bank.

Despite decades -- centuries even -- of global efforts, slavery can still be found not just on the high seas, but around the world and throughout various supply chains. Through this series on forced labor, sponsored by C&A Foundation, we’ll explore many different types of bonded and forced labor and highlight industries where this practice is alive and well today.

In this series we examine how companies should respond to national controversy like police violence and the BLM movement to best support employees and how can companies work to improve equality by increasing diversity in their ranks directly.

Compost is often considered a panacea for the United States’ tremendous food waste problem. Indeed, composting is a much better option than putting spoiled food in a garbage can destined for a landfill.

More than 12,500 clean energy and transportation jobs were announced in this year’s second quarter (Q2 2014), more than double that of Q1, according to a report from Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) on the eve of the Labor Day weekend.

The announcement of the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan instilled confidence and greater certainty regarding the future of clean energy in the U.S. That, in turn, helped spur the jump in clean energy job announcements in Q2, Environmental Entrepreneurs stated in a press release.

“This Labor Day weekend, the story is that more Americans are working because of clean energy,” E2 Executive Director Bob Keefe was quoted as saying. “But to keep that growth going, we need our state and federal leaders to do their jobs too. We need them to support smart policies that grow our economy and protect our environment – policies like the federal Clean Power Plan.”

Clean energy, transportation policies spur green job creation

Jonathan Foster, CEO of energy software services company Nexant and director of E2’s Northern California chapter, highlighted the pivotal role government policy plays in establishing the rules governing a private-sector, market-driven economy that values both environmental and economic sustainability:

“Businesses depend on market certainty, and clean energy businesses are no different. What good policies do – whether it’s AB 32 in California or the new federal Clean Power Plan – is help create market certainty. That’s good for our economy and our environment.”

Green job growth leaders

Examining Q2 growth in clean energy and clean transportation job announcements across the nation, E2 found that more were announced in Arizona than any other U.S. state. California ranked second and Michigan third.

“Solar Wind Energy Inc. announced it expects to hire at least 350 permanent jobs for a new project in San Luis, Arizona. California ranks second in the E2 report, thanks to announcements from the utility-scale solar industry and from 500 new jobs announced by Tesla Motors. Michigan placed third, with GM expected to add as many as 1,400 jobs producing advanced battery technologies,” E2 elaborated.

In its press release, E2 also summarized other notable clean energy projects announced across the U.S. during th second quarter:

Well over 1,000 new jobs stemmed from SolarCity’s announcement of its $200 million acquisition of solar manufacturer Silevo. As part of the acquisition, SolarCity will build a 1 GW annual production capacity manufacturing facility at the RiverBend clean energy hub in Buffalo, New York;

800 new construction jobs tied to Tenaska’s recently-closed deal to build the Imperial Solar Energy Center West Project in Imperial County, California;

800 jobs created with the $66.7 million investment from Boston Housing Authority, which enabled public housing water and energy retrofits throughout the city. The city expects to save $4 million a year.

For five quarters running, more solar energy jobs were announced (22) in Q2 than were announced in any other clean energy or clean transportation sector, E2 found. “[F]ive solar companies announced hiring in the residential sector, expanding their existing workforce in the prime solar markets of Arizona, California, New York and Massachusetts. Each of these states has strong net metering policies, enabling residents to sell electricity back to the grid,” E2 highlights.

An independent journalist, researcher and writer, my work roams across the nexus where ecology, technology, political economy and sociology intersect and overlap. The lifelong quest for knowledge of the world and self -- not to mention gainful employment -- has led me near and far afield, from Europe, across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and back home to the Americas.
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Email: huginn.muggin@gmail.com